On Not Listening Like A Philistine

In 1 Samuel 5 and 6 the Ark of the Covenant is taken into captivity by the Philistines for seven months. The Ark is bad-news for the Philistines: it brings judgment on the idol-worshipers and judgment on their idols.

The idol-worshipers took the Ark captive, but they don't know what to do with it. The wicked don't know what to do when they are in the presence of a Holy God. Colloquially speaking, the Philistines were freaking out.

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place (1 Samuel 6:2).

 So they brainstorm to send the Ark away.

The takeaway message:

• Don't listen like a Philistine--they heard God's voice--they saw God's judgment on their idols--but they refused to listen and draw near to the Holy God. Instead of truly listening, and being changed by God's word of judgment, they opted to keep their idols and send the Ark (God) away.
• Don't listen like a Philistine--draw near to God in humility and repentance--chuck your idols, pursue the Holy God that spoke a word of judgment. 

Kudos to Pastor Nate Harlan at Trinity Evangelical Church, Larwill, IN. Content for this post inspired by personal notes from his sermon series from 2009.